Sotheby's Will Auction Kanye's Grammy-Worn 2008 Nike Air Yeezy Samples

Legendary auction house Sotheby’s have recently taken a deep-dive into the world of sneakers, offering a selection of ultra-rare pairs over the last few months. The latest grail set to be auctioned by the house is a one off Nike Air Yeezy sample, the pair worn by Kanye West himself during the 2008 Grammy awards, where he performed both “Hey Mama” and “Stronger”.

The pair has been independently valued at $1 Million USD, meaning they’re the most expensive pair of sneakers to ever be auctioned by Sotheby’s. While all the released versions of Nike Air Yeezys are extensively rare, these are on a new level - they could well be the only pair in existence.

The pair are in a size US12 and were meticulously crafted in the Nike “innovation kitchen” at the Swoosh’s Oregon headquarters. Designed by Kanye West and Mark Smith, the Air Yeezy was one of the first signature sneakers for a musician rather than an athlete, and showcases features from all of Kanye’s favourite Nike sneakers from over the years.

The black leather upper is perforated and a Nike Swoosh is present on the lateral sides, while the iconic Nike Yeezy strap appears over the forefoot. Other notable features include pink lace locks and pull-tabs at the rear and it’s also worth noting that the pair come complete with a bespoke wooden box with a laser-etched Yeezy design.

Anyone interested in obtaining this pair is going to need seriously deep pockets, although we don’t doubt they’ll sell in a heartbeat. The Nike Air Yeezy samples are currently on display at an exhibition in Hong Kong until April 21st, when they will be made available via private offers submitted to Sotheby’s. Make sure to keep it locked in right here at The Sole Supplier for all the latest and check out the latest Yeezy 350 V2 design while you’re here!